News

Yaounde: Leader says the international community will not turn a blind eye to the plight of West Cameroonians

19, January 2017

Yaounde: Leader says the international community will not turn a blind eye to the plight of West Cameroonians 1

The Chairman of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium and Vice President of the Bar Association, Barrister Agbor Felix Nkongho have told a sea of Francophone army generals and judges from the military tribunal in Yaoundé that the international community will not turn a blind eye to the plight of British Southern Cameroonians. The Anglophone leader urged the United Nation, the European Union and the governments of the United States and Great Britain to unite in support of the persecuted minority in Cameroon.

Barrister Agbor Balla Felix made the remarks as he was being interrogated by highly placed Francophone military officials today in Yaoundé.  Balla Felix further condemned the Biya regime’s handling of the Anglophone problem observing that the Consortium has made genuine recommendations to Yaoundé over the matter. The Leader also censured the killings and massive arrest going on in Southern Cameroonians and called on Etoudi to focus on getting a swift solution to the crisis gripping West Cameroon.

We gathered that in the presence of Barrister Ben Muna, the Francophone interrogators attempted to put a charge on terrorism on the Leader including what they described as the Leader’s trade in hate speech. Barrister Agbor Balla Felix pointed out that West Cameroonians have been deprived of their inalienable right to citizenship while facing systematic discrimination, violence and hatred from the political elites of Francophone Cameroun.

British Southern Cameroonians are dying appalling deaths and the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime is not anywhere near to end its crackdown on the Anglophone community.  The Leader made a short submission at the tail-end of the interrogation stating that “West Cameroonians have suffered appalling deaths, and those that have lived through Francophone military atrocities have witnessed or endured unspeakable cruelty.”

Southern Cameroons is one of the most persecuted minorities in Africa. Tens of thousands of its citizens are asylum seekers in Europe, the US, Canada and the Middle East. The Francophone government has constantly denied full citizenship to the Anglophone Cameroonian and imposes some form of restrictions on their movement. For instance, the Republic of Cameroon has four international airports and none of them is located in the Anglophone zone. Hydro electricity power dams in the Anglophone region were shut down and the Anglophone communities now rely on power from dams in the Francophone areas.

Since 2016, the Francophone dominated army has carried out many operations in Southern Cameroons using air power that claimed the lives of many Southern Cameroonians. In recent days, there have been numerous reports of arbitrary killings, rapes and other atrocities against British Southern Cameroonians. Thousands have fled to neighboring Nigeria in the face of the crackdown.

By Chi Prudence Asong

Bamenda: Many feared dead as Francophone troops clash with civilians

19, January 2017

Bamenda: Many feared dead as Francophone troops clash with civilians 2

The Francophone Army has reportedly killed civilians today in Bamenda in a clash between soldiers and some residents of the city. The regime in Yaoundé has shutdown internet and telephone services in the Anglophone region of the country making it difficult for our cream of reporters to send live pictures of the prevailing situation.

Cameroon Concord News understands the incident started earlier today at 2.00 a.m. when troops loyal to the Biya Francophone government stormed the residence of a prominent Southern Cameroons activist and arrested him and his partner. The 31 Artillery Brigade of the Francophone Army presently stationed in Bamenda, the capital of the North West region intervened when the population came out massively to clamor for the release of those arrested.

Our North West bureau is yet to establish a tally of those who have been killed and arrested by the joint police and army operation.

By Sama Ernest

Leader says the Anglophone Problem is real and legitimate

19, January 2017

Leader says the Anglophone Problem is real and legitimate 0

The Chairman of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society and Vice President of the Bar Association, Barrister Felix Agbor Nkongho has said that a return to federalism is one of the solutions to the ongoing crisis in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon.

On January 17, 2017, René Emmanuel Sadi, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization (MINATD) signed a decree banning the activities of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC) and the presidency of the republic ordered his arrest some few hours later.

Felix Agbor Nkongho hinted that “If you look at the memorandum of May 9, 2016, the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society used the words” federalism or nothing.” The Chairman of the Consortium also revealed to a French tabloid that the Consortium has no hidden agenda since the genesis of the crisis.

“Lawyers had addressed a memo to the Minister of Justice, the Prime Minister, the Senate and the National Assembly; you will see that federalism was there. So it’s not a hidden agenda as some people want to believe. The people in the Consortium are simply helping the state of Cameroon to survive. In other words, the debate among Anglophones is changing because of the government’s repressive actions.”

Reacting to his arrest in Buea, Chairman Agbor Balla said “No one wants to undermine the power of Yaoundé. It has never been said that Paul Biya has to leave. And then it’s not Paul Biya’s English problem. What is more, we have decided that no politician should be among the members of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium, so that no one can direct these claims towards their political agenda. The Anglophone problem is both real and legitimate.”

By Rita Akana

Egypt: Sisi’s government puts ex-football legend on ‘terror list’

18, January 2017

Egypt: Sisi’s government puts ex-football legend on ‘terror list’ 0

Egyptian authorities have added the name of a former football legend to the country’s controversial so-called terror list. Mohamed Aboutrika is a four-time African Footballer of the Year and court officials announced the blacklisting on Wednesday.

Aboutrika is one of Egypt’s all-time greatest athletes. He is accused of having links to the Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s largest political party, which is currently banned by the government. Tens of thousands of people have been jailed on similar charges while courts have handed down hefty sentences to Brotherhood supporters and sympathizers.

The list currently contains 1,500 names, including those of senior Brotherhood members. Among them is former President Mohamed Morsi, who was ousted in a coup led by the former head of the armed forces and current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in 2013.

Those blacklisted as terrorist become subject to a travel ban and face an asset freeze, according to a draconian law passed in 2015, which has drawn huge international criticism. Aboutrika supported Morsi’s bid to become the first democratically-elected president. The retired footballer, who is currently 38, has denied allegations of providing funds to the Brotherhood.

His lawyer said on Wednesday that the decision by the Criminal Court of Egypt was against the law. Mohamed Osman said Aboutrika has yet to be convicted or formally notified of the charges against him, adding that he would appeal the ruling. The legend footballer faced an earlier asset freeze order by a government committee in 2015. A later court ruling was supposed to lift the freeze although Osman said the ban was still in place.

Aboutrika, known as the Magician to many Egyptians, is currently in Gabon, where the Africa Cup of Nations is being held. Osman would not elaborate on when his client would return to Egypt to face the new charges.

Presstv

Consortium uncovers the deployment of thousands of “secret service” personnel in Bamenda and Buea

18, January 2017

Consortium uncovers the deployment of thousands of “secret service” personnel in Bamenda and Buea 0

Biya has ordered the deployment of thousands of undercover military personnel in Bamenda and Buea, a source at the presidency of the republic has hinted. Our informant added that the special forces acting as secret service officials have been given directives to arrest any West Cameroonian citizen exhibiting any sort of violence, be it throwing stones, stopping another person from opening his/her store, burning the flag, carrying the southern Cameroon flag, or simply yelling at someone for not obeying the strike.

Cameroon Intelligence Report understands these military men and women are dressed in civilian attire to blend well with the local population.  They have been told to show up in churches to spy and arrest those militating against the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime.

Information also filtered that many of the members of the elite force appear in torn trousers or shirts or native attire looking like a villager.  The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society has issued a warning to all Southern Cameroonians to be extremely careful and exercise non-violence in whatever they do. The Consortium recently revealed that If West Cameroonians see any suspicious person they have never seen before around their neighborhood or church, they should know that the said individual is an undercover military personal.

At the time of filing this report, we gathered that many Southern Cameroonians have been arrested and tortured by the members of the new secret service force created to stifle the Anglophone uprising.  The presidency of the La Republique has also sent personal threatening letters warning the Anglophone Roman Catholic Bishops not to send out another memo in support of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium.

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium has again announced that strikes and the civil disobedience campaign will go ahead until our Southern Cameroon demands are met. In a statement, the Chairman of the Consortium called on “West Cameroonians not to allow the selfish ones among us to destroy our struggle.” It is vital to include in this report that ghost town operations will begin next week and will hold on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Southern Cameroonians are called upon to listen to leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report

Consortium confirms Wilfred Tassang is inside a Western embassy, schools to remain closed, ghost town to continue

18, January 2017

Consortium confirms Wilfred Tassang is inside a Western embassy, schools to remain closed, ghost town to continue 1

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium has announced that one of its leaders, the Great Wilfred Tassang is now being secretly sheltered in a Western embassy in Yaoundé. The information was made public by the interim coordinator of the Consortium in Europe, Mark Bareta.

The Consortium statement added that the unnamed European country has agreed in principle to provide Wilfred Tassang the necessary protection a leader of his standing and quality deserves. The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium also officially announced that internet services in the Buea and Bamenda provinces of West Cameroon have been shut down by La Republique du Cameroun.

We got intelligence that the Consortium Chairman Barrister Agbor Balla advised Wilfred Tassang to make the move to Yaounde in a private car.   The Anglophone leaders have also appealed to West Cameroonians residing in La Republique du Cameroun, Gabon and neighboring Nigeria to get involve in transmitting information from the Consortium to the people of Southern Cameroons.

The leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium have declared that the civil disobedience campaign will continue beginning next week and will be staged on Mondays and Wednesdays. Millions of Southern Cameroonians have expressed pessimism with life under the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime and are now calling for a two state federation or a separate state for British Southern Cameroons.

The Anglophone communities have unanimously accepted that they have no positive perspectives for the future as repression against the freedom of opinion are continuing, including the online media. Schools will remain closed until all Anglophone demands are met by the Francophone regime.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report

SCNC Leader calls for global action against La Republique, endorses ghost town in West Cameroon

18, January 2017

SCNC Leader calls for global action against La Republique, endorses ghost town in West Cameroon 1

The leader of the Southern Cameroons National Council has called on Anglophones in the diaspora to take swift and decisive global action that will bring pressure to bear on the Francophone regime in Yaounde. Nfor Ngalla was reacting to news of the arrest of the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium yesterday in Buea. Below is the original text from the SCNC Chairman as emailed to us early this morning.

DEAR ALL,

Having been wounded gravely by the strikes and the GHOST TOWNS GHOST COUNTRY, the annexationist regime in Yaoundé has today imposed a ban on the SCNC and the Consortium. The proconsuls in our land are empowered to arrest and detain the leaders. News reaching me from Buea have it that the President Bala Agbor Nkongho and Secretary Dr. Fontem of the Consortium have been arrested this evening by gendarmes.

In this circumstance I am calling for global action at all UN Offices and UK EMBASSIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. ALL SOUTHERN CAMEROONIANS IN UK SHOULD MOVE TO 10 DOWNING STR. AND STAY THERE TILL THE PM MAKES A POSITIVE STATEMENT. THOSE IN NEW YORK AND STATES CLOSE TO THE UN IN NEW YORK SHOULD MOVE THERE AND CALL FOR UN IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION TO AVOID A BLOOD BATH. THE REST IN USA SHOULD BE IN WASHINGTON DC IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE CALLING ON USA PROMPT INTERVENTION AND RELEASE OF ALL SOUTHERN CAMEROONIANS UNDER DETENTION AND TORTURE.

YOUR FAILURE TO ACT AS PRESCRIBED IS BURYING THE STRUGGLE AND WORSE SLAVERY FOR SOUTHERN CAMEROONIANS. MORE ARRESTS WILL FOLLOW TOMORROW. ACT NOW TO AVOID THE WORSE FOR OUR PEOPLE AND NATION.

NFOR NGALA NFOR

Nigeria: Army says mistaken airstrike kills 100 civilians

18, January 2017

Nigeria: Army says mistaken airstrike kills 100 civilians 0

At least 100 civilians have been killed in what Nigeria’s army calls a mistaken airstrike in the north of the country. Nigerian military commander, Major General Lucky Irabor, confirmed on Tuesday that the attack in the northeastern area of Rann, near the border with Cameroon, had mistakenly targeted a refugee camp.

The general had earlier declined to give a toll of casualties. “Many civilians, including personnel of International Committee of the Red Cross and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) were wounded,” he said of the Tuesday morning attack, which was carried out in Borno state.Local officials said the air force fighter jet that carried out the attack was on a mission to bombard suspected positions of Boko Haram, a Takfiri group operating in northern Nigeria and some neighboring countries.

Several other people, including aid workers, were injured in the airstrike. Later reports said those injured were all Nigerian nationals working for international aid organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC said in a later statement that six of its workers were killed in the airstrike. “We regret that among the casualties of today’s airstrikes in Rann, there are six Nigerian RC members killed and 13 wounded,” said the aid group. Hours later, the MSF issued a statement condemning the airstrike.

“This large-scale attack on vulnerable people who have already fled from extreme violence is shocking and unacceptable,” said MSF director of operations, Jean-Clement Cabrol. Nigeria has been at war with Boko Haram since the group started an insurgency in Borno about eight years ago. Almost 15,000 people have been killed while the violence has displaced more than two million, including those refugees killed in the mistaken airstrike.

Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to Daesh, another Takfiri group, which has been wreaking havoc in the Middle East and North Africa over the past few years. A task force established by the African Union to help Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram has almost contained the violence. However, Boko Haram has used the end of the rainy season to step up attacks over the past weeks as its militants could move easier in the bush. On Tuesday, the terror group claimed bombings that rocked the University of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, a day earlier. A professor and a child were killed in the attack while 17 others were wounded.

Presstv

Arrest of Anglophone leaders: Ghost town operation to continue indefinitely

18, January 2017

Arrest of Anglophone leaders: Ghost town operation to continue indefinitely 1

Tuesday the 17th of January 2017 marked day three of the civil disobedience campaign across Southern Cameroons. Although the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo government had earlier dismissed the level of participation as insignificant, the success of the policy prompted Yaoundé to make a dramatic U-turn banning the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society and arresting its leaders. Local reporting in Bamenda and Buea shows that many Anglophone citizens are now joining the revolution and ghost town operations are expected to continue.

The Francophone regime in Yaoundé has disconnected internet and telephone services all over British Southern Cameroons and moved the leaders arrested to an unknown destination deep inside La Republique du Cameroun. The Common Law Lawyers and the teachers’ trade unions have urged Southern Cameroonians to keep their children at home and put their faith in the Consortium. The teachers and lawyers say, no schools will resume until the demands made by the Anglophone Consortium are met. We also gathered that the Anglophone Bar Association has taken over the responsibility of releasing information coming out of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium.

Numerous shops will remain closed in the North West and South West regions of the country today and many parents have vowed to keep their children home from school. Although the government tried to portray the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society leaders as extremists, it is now evident that the Anglophone leaders had indeed refused bribes from agents of the Francophone regime. We are expecting to see a complete absence of automobile and pedestrian traffic in normally congested areas in West Cameroon this week.

This decidedly grassroots campaign is a response to the Francophone government’s gross mismanagement of Southern Cameroon’s resources and economy and its misplaced spending priorities that privilege the already bloated security and military sectors of Francophone Cameroun at the expense of Southern Cameroon’s underfunded health and education sectors. As several British Southern Cameroonians have noted, this campaign is driven by popular support and everyday Anglophone citizens that blame the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime for their increasingly difficult economic situation.

It is more dangerous now as many anonymous Anglophone actors have began taken control of the revolution following the arrest of the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society. Opposition political parties have instructed their members to join the ghost town campaign. Concerns have been expressed over an escalation of violence in British Southern Cameroons. The specter of La Republique’s violence continues to hang over all public protests after the killing of many Southern Cameroonians in Kumba, Buea, Bamenda and Kumbo.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report

Yaounde shuts down internet and telephone services in Anglophone Cameroon

17, January 2017

Yaounde shuts down internet and telephone services in Anglophone Cameroon 1

Cameroon Concord News has been informed that internet and telephone services in British Southern Cameroons have all been disconnected. The decision is in line with the Yaounde regime’s attempt at stifling the Anglophone uprising.

The situation has become more intractable following the arrest and subsequent transfer of the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium from Buea to Yaounde. The West Cameroon diaspora has been called upon to provide proxy servers to the freedom fighters back home.

By Sama Ernest in Buea

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